Report by Tanya Singh:
The United Kingdom has strongly reacted to China’s move to pull BBC World News off the air for serious content violation. Calling it ‘unacceptable’, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has called the ban “an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom”.
Key points:
- BBC World News is not included in most TV channel packages in China.
- A British media regulator revoked China’s CGTN’s licence to broadcast in the UK.
- It comes after BBC reported systematic rape against women in China’s internment camps.
The reaction from the UK government came after China`s broadcasting regulator announced on Thursday that it was pulling BBC World News off the air in the country for serious content violation.
Dominic Raab said the move will damage Beijing’s reputation in the eyes of the world.China last week threatened to retaliate after UK regulator Ofcom stripped state TV channel China Global Television Network of its UK broadcasting licence.
The decision was based on technical issues but rooted in complaints about CGTN’s role in persecuting critics of the ruling Communist Party.
It was thought that the BBC, which is only available in some hotels, businesses and residential compounds for foreigners in China, could become a target.Beijing has previously criticised the BBC’s reporting on coronavirus in the country, as well as allegations of human rights abuses against the Uighur minority in Xinjiang.
